Customer Review
AURORA SQ-20 Review
Equipment used;
1st system
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Linn Selekt Turntable, Modified Ittok arm, Audio Technica 0C9-XSH moving coil cartridge
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EAR Phonobox Valve phono stage
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Chord Shawline Interconnects
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Yamaha A-S500 Natural Sound Amplifier
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TCI constrictor/Russ Andrews 4PR speaker cables.
2nd system
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Naim Uniti, amp, CD and lossless streaming.
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Russ Andrews 4PR Speaker cables.
Having owned floorstanding speakers for 20 years, we used a very old pair (1982 ) Heybrook HBS1 speaker stands, bought at the time for an original pair of 1981 Mission 700’s.
These stands had seen better days and were rescued from storage where they were being used to support plant pots!
We found the best balance/sound reproduction was with the speakers placed 12 – 18 inches from a rear wall slightly toed in towards the listening point. It is dependent on how close you sit from the speakers/room size. Experimentation is the key here.
First up was the Tord Gustavsen Trio “Seeing” from 2023, vinyl LP on ECM 2820.
This is a very laid back, contemplative recording. Gustavsen’s piano sounding smooth but carrying the attack of a grand piano with a sustain which made for a real in the studio sound. Steinar Rakes’ Double bass was very deep – considering the modest speaker size, – a feature on all types of music used – it was percussive, his note bending, glissendo playing and feel was to the fore and his skill could be fully appreciated. Drums by Jarle Vespestad complimented the others – as a jazz percussionist should. Hi hats, cymbals, snare and toms were very well revealed and re-produced. Our cat was curled up contently on the sofa, ears barley twitching. A sure sign there was no high frequency nasties going on. All in all, a superbly balanced and impressive soundstage spread between the speakers, full marks to the D’von SQ-20 on this one!
Sticking with a Jazz theme but from 1958, was the John Coltrane Quintet playing “Lush Life” originally on Prestige 7188.
Coltrane’s tenor sax was clear and powerful, the tone and slight reverb added to by the space in the studio, was all present and correct. His breathing and finger work on the instrument easily audible during solo’s. Once more the bass playing, this time by Paul chambers, was deep, percussive and sounding accurate just like the Tord Gustavsen album. Impressive for such an old recording. Donald Bird’s trumpet had just the right rasp to its sound and could not have been mistaken for any other type of Brass. Drums and Piano made up the quintet. All highly musical and through these speakers the band sounded like they were having a good time. This recording, although stereo, is an early attempt
and instruments were clubbed together split in Left and right channels (Rather like early stereo Beatles). Even when they were all playing with gusto, the sound held together and all instruments could be heard clearly – good speakers can do this! Cat still curled up on the sofa.
Next a 2009 triple album called “Dub Echoes” Soul Jazz Records, SJR LP201. Using a track called” Witness” by Roots Manuva. Sonic excursions in dub and beyond – Jamaican Kings meet electronic futurists worldwide. Does what it sayes on the tin. Turning up the volume a little, and deep, deep bass came thundering out. A myriad of dub effects and electronic keyboard effects spread out across the soundstage. Played all of side one – very impressive performance by the speakers. Only a certain herb was missing! Our cat, obviously not a fan, left at the first track.
John Martin “Solid Air” from 1973. Original copy Island records ILPS 9226. Starting with the title track, his voice, acoustic guitar and Danny Thompson’s bass were like a musical velvet. Again, stereo image was deep and wide. John Martin’s sometimes mumbling vocal delivery was there, but we could clearly hear the words! After listening to this record for 50 years, this was a first for me. Nuff said.
Queen – De Lane Lea Demos from 1971-2 – 2024 mix. Track – LIAR. The speakers gave a real sense of being at a group rehearsal. Brian May’s guitar was as natural as I have ever heard it. Roger Taylors drums were powerful and the timing was exceptional. Freddie Mercury’s voice sang out clear as a bell. These are early versions of classic songs and his phrasing was noticeably different from later versions. This version is played as they would perform live with only a few of their signature overdubs. Superb rendition by the speakers.
Roger Waters – Amused to Death. 1992 CD – Track – Late home tonight parts 1 & 2. This begins with quiet birdsong and farm animals with a dog barking in the distance. It is recorded using Q-Sound, a process which added a type of surround sound effect just from a stereo pair of speakers. The Dog was barking somewhere to the side of my right ear! Later a band joins in along with aircraft sounds ending with a powerful explosion, which shook the room. The speakers showed the Q-Sound effect better than I have heard before. Sting’s album” The Soul Cages” used the same process.
I streamed various types of music – Including Dom Martin, a Blues virtuoso from Ireland, heavily influenced by Rory Gallacher. Again, his voice was clear and powerful with no hint of sibilance. All the weight and timing of his band realised through the speakers. (He has a power trio too). Whatever type/genre of music we listened to the sound signature of these speakers shone through. Balanced, cohesive, superb bass with smooth high end frequencies and a deep, broad stereo image. They look good too, but with sound like this I would not care if they looked like old cabbages! A superb small speaker around which a very, very good system could be built – perfectly capable of showing the improvements from hi-end ancillaries!
A very solid 8.5 out of 10. If we were able to use proper modern speaker stands, it would easily make 9/10.!